D'Andre Swift or Terry McLaurin: Toss-Up — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

D'Andre Swift and Terry McLaurin grade out even this week. Swift's best edge is the game script (23.5 implied points to 20.5), McLaurin's best edge is snap share (70% to 58%) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

In standard and half-PPR scoring this flips to Swift.

D'Andre Swift

RB21CHIvs CAR

10.511.412.3 Projected Points

Start· medium

Terry McLaurin

WR22WSHvs PHI

7.710.012.3 Projected Points

Toss-Up

Why D'Andre Swift

Start· medium

Starting RB and lead back. Slashing zone-scheme runner with three-down passing-game involvement.

Swift is the locked-in Bears starter (58% snaps, 10% target share) and RB21 with 12.3 projected — a fine flex/RB2 as a 2.5-point favorite.

CAR ranks 21 of 32 against RBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 23.5 team points as 2.5-point favorites.
Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 58% snap share in 2025.

The call

Role is the case: the post-cuts depth chart lists Swift as the starting back ahead of Monangai and Johnson, and he's held a 58% snap share with a 10% target share — three-down volume in PPR.
RB21 at 12.3 projected points is a usable RB2/flex in a 12-team league; you're not benching that for a replacement-level option.
Game script cooperates — Chicago is a 2.5-point favorite with a 23.5 implied total, which points to a positive-script workload and goal-line looks.
The one caution: the Carolina DvP composite (21 of 32) is built on a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so treat the matchup as neutral rather than a boost.

Latest on Swift

Verified

RoleThe Bears' depth chart following final roster cuts lists D'Andre Swift as the starting running back, with Kyle Monangai as the backup and Roschon Johnson third.Sports Illustrated · Aug 31, 2026

Why Terry McLaurin

Toss-Up

WR1 and primary outside receiver. Field-stretching deep threat with high-volume target share and Pro Bowl-caliber production.

Toss-up — WR22 consensus, projects WR24 this week: PHI is the 10th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 24% target share in 2025.

PHI ranks 10 of 32 against WRs (one of the tougher matchups, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 20.5 team points as 5.5-point underdogs.
Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 70% snap share in 2025.

Latest on McLaurin

Commanders need to show how far they've come vs. Lions

Third-year QB Jayden Daniels is looking like he did in 2024, but can a revamped defense hold up its end?

ESPN · Aug 21, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	D'Andre Swift	Terry McLaurin
Projected points	10.511.412.3	7.710.012.3
Consensus rank	RB21	WR22
Opponent vs position	CAR · 21 of 320-game sample	PHI · 10 of 320-game sample
Rushing Yards	25 of 32	—
Rushing TDs	24 of 32	—
Rushing Attempts	25 of 32	—
Receptions	17 of 32	10 of 32
Receiving Yards	13 of 32	15 of 32
Anytime TD	23 of 32	1 of 32
Receiving TDs	—	1 of 32
Targets	—	23 of 32
Target share	10%(2025)	24%(2025)
Reception share	11%(2025)	23%(2025)
Implied total · spread	23.5-2.5	20.5+5.5
Depth chart	RB1	WR1
Snap share	58%(2025)	70%(2025)
Start/Sit record	0–0+1 toss-up	—